Journal article
Religiosity & mental health seeking behaviors among U.S. adults
International journal of psychiatry in medicine, Vol.59(2), pp.248-264
03/01/2024
DOI: 10.1177/00912174231187841
PMCID: PMC10832325
PMID: 37390367
Abstract
The association between religiosity and secular mental health utilization is unclear. Evidence suggests that religious and spiritual leaders (R/S leaders) may be more trusted than secular mental health therapists (SMHTs) and are often the first point of contact for individuals with mental health problems who identify as religious.
Generalized equation estimate (GEE) analyses were used to examine the association between religiosity and mental health seeking behaviours in 2,107 participants using t Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS) data collected between 1995 and 2014.
The final model indicated that after adjusting for covariates, higher levels of baseline religious identification and baseline spirituality (assessed in 1995) predicted an increase in visits to R/S leaders from 1995 to 2014 by a factor of 1.08 (95% CI=1.01-1.16) and 1.89 (95% CI=1.56-2.28), respectively. Higher levels of baseline religious identification reduced SMHTs visits by a factor of 0.94 (95% CI=0.90-0.98), whereas higher levels of baseline spirituality increased SMHTs visits by a factor of 1.13 (95% CI=1.00-1.27) during the same timeframe.
Higher levels of spirituality and religious identification increased the frequency over time of seeking mental health support from R/S leaders relative to SMHTs. Individuals with mental illness may seek support from religious resources, mental health professionals, or both, underscoring the importance of collaboration between R/S leaders and SMHTs. Mental health training for R/S leaders and collaboration with SMHTs may help alleviate mental health burden, especially among those who highly value their religious and spiritual beliefs.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Religiosity & mental health seeking behaviors among U.S. adults
- Creators
- Augustine Cassis Obeng Boateng - Spirituality and Health Hub, Philadelphia, PA, USAJoshua Sebu - University of Cape CoastRuby Lekwauwa - Yale UniversityKatherine C Britt - University of PennsylvaniaHayoung Oh - Spirituality and Health Hub, Philadelphia, PA, USABenjamin Doolittle - Yale University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of psychiatry in medicine, Vol.59(2), pp.248-264
- DOI
- 10.1177/00912174231187841
- PMID
- 37390367
- PMCID
- PMC10832325
- ISSN
- 0091-2174
- eISSN
- 1541-3527
- Grant note
- T32 NR009356 / NINR NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2024
- Academic Unit
- Nursing; Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9984701722302771
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